Chain



Sept. 10, 1929. c. s. B,ARRELL CHAIN Original Fild July l0n 1924 `Patterned sept. 1o, 1929.

,UNITED STATES CHARLES BABRELL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAIN.

'application mea my 10,1924, serial No. 725,151.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to chains, and more particularly to a link construction suitable for the cross chains of tire chains and for other purposes.

l One of the objects of the invention is to provide a link formed of a wire loop having sides seated in. opposed grooves of a filler or member, the construction being such that the en ds of the wire forming the loop are secured'by said member. j The usual crossf chains of tire chains are made of links which are so formed that when a cross chain slackens sufficiently and is rolled and twisted in performing its'traction function, the chain is liable, to kink up, andA one or more links will ride upon and overlap` adjacent links. When vthe cross chain thus kinked vis again placed under tension, the overlapped links often are so interlocked that they remain in this position `and are liable to be broken and are liable to cause serious injury to the tire. Another purpose of the invention, therefore, is to provide a cross chain made of links which are l so formed that the cross chain cannot kink view, the .character of the invention maybe.

best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawing.

In .the drawing: Fig.y 1 is a transversesection through a tire equipped with a cross'chain embodying the invention; l

Fig. 2 on an enlarged scale is a section of the filler taken through the median plane of 4o the link; Y

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken lon line 3 3v of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the cylindrical filler or member; Fig. 5 is a side view of a portion of one Renewed January 14, 1929.

of the links and showing the interlocking relation of the wire loop with the ller member; and

Fig. 6 on an enlarged scale is va side eleinvention, comprises a series of links 5,

each of which consists of a filler or memvher 7 of a rounded character, and in the present instance substantially cylindrical in form. This member may have a circumferential groove'9 between circumferential ribs v11. Formed -in the member are a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves 13 and the member may have cupped ends 15.l This member may be made of steel or other suitable material.

A loop 17 is formed of wire of the appropriate length. The side 19'. of the loop is seated in one .of the `grooves 13 of the member 47, and the ends 21,0f the loop are bent down and seated into the opposite groove 13 of the member. The wire is of suitable length so that after it is formed into the loop it will have ends 23 which project beyond the ends of the member to provide eyes 25 -for receivingvthe loops of adjacent links. Preferably the wire from 4which the loop is formed has a nearly fiat face 26. Y e

v It is desirable that the loop shall have interlocking relation with the member. Tol accomplish this, after the op osed sides of the loop have been seated in t e grooves 13, 'they may besubjected to pressure which locally upsets portions 27 (Fig. 6) of the wire and causes the same to be extruded or pressed out to embrace and have interlockmg engagement with the circumferentlal ,28a having sides seated in opposed grooves in a filler or member 29. The Wire may .have portions extruded to` interlock with the ends of the filler and prevent relative movement of the loop and filler. This filler I cross chain.v vThe., curvedfacesflofthe fwash j minal links.

may be narrower than the fillers described and does not need to have a circumferential groove. An end ofthe Wire projects beyond the loop 28a to provide a stud 3l having a head 33. A washer 35 may be mounted on the stud and may have'a flat face 37 for engagement With-v the headpand a curved face 39.

Connected to each ofthe terminal links is a hook 41 made of Wire formed to pro,- ,vide an eye 43 for receiving thel terminal link stud 31. The hook has fa shank 45, a reverse bend 47 and an end portion @t9y which isl bent back so'v that that-ip .thereof meets the shank and 'thus vformsan eye for receiving one of the side Chainflinks 3.? i`

The .construction S ,Slih; 'that thefterminal links .'28 'are swiveliled 'to-fthe"y hooks "lillaildA permit the` cross chain toQrolLpn 1e tir' and distributewear'ong-ther links fof .the`r ers 39.(enable 'the vvashje'uffs tov conformto? the rounded form of. the '.Wir'e' at ,the hook eyes 43. Thus, thewashers reducethe Wea-i2l on the eyes and the stud heads33,VV andalso facilitate the `swivel movements of the ter! The generall cylindrical formof the yfillers or members 7 facilitates rotative adjustment of the cross chainon the tire, and said members desirably'protect the loops ofthe links from wear.v The sides of the links cannot wear down more than the fillers. The Wire loops insure a good grip of the links on the ground With desirable traction effect, andthe circumferential ribs of the cylindrical members have a good grip on the ground for resisting skidding.

The surface portions of the Wire loopV and filler are case hardened to a depth of about one-sixteenth of an inch. Thus in use, after the loop has been Worn to this depth, the

softer material is reached and the subsequent wear is more rapid. Consequently,

it is desirable that the wire loop shall have an outer flattened face. -It is moreefcient in resisting Wear than a Wire loop of circular cross-section.

When the links 5 are assembled, the ends 23 of the links may enter the cupped ends of the cylindrical members, and said members will limit relative rocking movements of the links. The construction of the links is such that the relative rocking movements of adjacent links is so restricted that it is Y impossible for a link to fold over onto and is not limited to the specific chain described herein, and that various deviations may be made therefrom Without departing from v the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A link comprising a substantially cylindrical member having a circumferential groove and a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinal grooves, and a Wire loop having opposed sides in said longitudinal grooves and having interlocking engagement with said circumferential groove.

2. A link comprising a member having a circumferential groove and a pair of opposed longitudinal grooves, and a Wire bent into'k the form of a loop vhaving opposed sides in said longitudinal grooves, and the endsfof the Wire loop pressed into interlockingengagement with the circumferenv tial groove,

f AVlinlccomprising a rounded membe` @having{circumferential ribs and opposed lony gitudinal grooves, and a Wire bent-into loop "form land having opposed sides pressed into said longitudinal grooves and formed for interlocking engagement with said circumferential ribs.

.4. `A link comprising a member having a circumferential groove, opposed longitudinal grooves and cupped ends, and a Wire loop having opposed sides seated in said longitudinal grooves, said sides having portions extruded for locking engagement with said circumferential groove.

5.*A link comprising a member having opposed longitudinal grooves and cupped ends, and a Wire loop having opposed sides seated in said grooves and ends projecting beyond said member and forming eyes adapted for connection With'other links.

6. A link comprising a member. having opposed grooves therein, and a .wire loop having a continuous side seated in one of said grooves and end portions parallel to said side and seated in the other groove.

7. In a chain, a series of connected links, each comprising a member of rounded character and having opposed grooves and cupped ends, and a Wire loop receivingvsaid member and having opposed sides seated in l1o 11er to present eyes, and the Said grooves, the ends of the loop projectin beyond said member to present eyesz vam the ends of adjacent links being nterllnked together and adapted to project into the 5 cupped ends of the members.

8. In a chain, connected links, each comprising a wire loop and a, filler between the sides of the wire `loop and secured thereto, the ends of the loop projectngjleyond the er having cupped ends for receiving ends of, the links.

CHARLES S. BARRELL. 

